I think it really comes down to whether you plan to ride them or display them. If your goal is to have an accurate restoration, then you must go with the tubulars. But even then, if you really want to do it right, you've got to find vintage tires or at least find ones that have the right vintage look. And then you start date-matching your parts. And you have to make do with some of the "quirks" that were pretty typical in the 70s -- ( extremely narrow bars, for example -- that for most people today feel pretty odd or even uncomfortable to ride) Pretty soon, the cost starts going up beyond what you ever planned.
On the other hand, if you just want a cool vintage ride (and actually plan to ride it), there is nothing wrong with using more modern clinchers (but finding tan-sidewall/skinwall clinchers isn't that easy now, either!). I mean, if you're not doing the complete "museum-display" restoration, then you're already making some concessions, so what is the difference if the rims aren't "accurate" as long as they have the basic "look." I used to ride nothing but tubulars, but lately, I find that clinchers are just that much easier to work with. Your idea to polish up some Open Pro rims sounds interesting, but also like a helluva lot of work -- I'm sure there is an easier solution -- and the plain silver anodized ones don't look bad on a vintage ride when you have the right tires mounted on them.
There is a third option -- why not do both?
You already have a set of original AVA rims. If you can afford a second set of Record hubs (used ones can be had for not-too-much -- and with just a little effort, you can polish them up to look like new) then build them up to keep for display or for special rides. Then build up your "rider" wheels. Open Pros would be great -- or save about half the money and get the Open Sports (MA3 replacements) which come in silver and look pretty nice. Don't bother polishing them, but if you really insist, you could put on the vintage reproduction stickers (available on eBay all the time).
Kyle Brooks Akron, Ohio
> [Original Message]
> From: Donald Gillies <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: 12/26/2006 11:36:15 PM
> Subject: [CR]Restoration : Clincher or Tubulars ??
>
> I have two newly repainted bike frames from 1974, and they are very
> close to "perfect" restorations (Raleigh International(s) - undoubedly
> they look better than original, and the colors are great, with not-too
> thick of a clearcoat). I just got the much-hoped-for truing stand for
> Christmas. Time to build some wheels.
>
> In the garage, I have some used original AVA wheels and rims, which
> are quite possibly some of the _crummiest_ tubular rims that existed
> in 1974 (these are the dreaded "washer" rims with no eyelets.) And I
> have learned that my skills at mounting tubulars are so poor that i
> could quite possibly go through all 14 of my budget tires before I get
> just one tire mounted straight ...
>
> So here are the choices for the wheels :
>
> - Campy High-Flange Original Hubs, and
>
> AVA Rims +
> Panaracer Practice Tubulars ( = Raleigh Nylon Extra 270gm, circa 1974)
>
> - or -
>
> MAVIC Open Pro Rims +
> - stripped of anodizing & polished
> - modern logo removed, maybe a retro "MAVIC" logo applied
> Clement (Thailand) Ventoux Clinchers, 220 grams +
> Michelin 70 gram tubes
>
> =====
>
> My goal is to have a good bike, and imho the campy hubs are more
> likely to get used by the next owner if the wheels are clinchers.
> Nobody is making new AVA washer-rims. I've noticed that on the
> vintage san diego rides, EVERYONE is riding clinchers, i.e. on the
> Colnagos, the Raleighs, the Cinellis, etc. I was the only one with
> tubulars (my Carlton PRO last month on our ride to Solana Beach ...
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA